At age 20, she gave birth to a baby girl she named Namiko Love Browner. She took vocal lessons in Culver City, California, but quit when she unexpectedly became pregnant. Her maternal grandfather is Japanese and maternal grandmother is Creole Dominican with Spanish ancestry. Her mother is of Spanish, Dominican, and Japanese descent, and her father is of Native American, African-American, and German-Jewish descent. Aiko is the daughter of Christina Yamamoto and Karamo Chilombo, a pediatrician. She calls her home neighborhood "Slauson Hills". Her family lived in South Los Angeles, but their home burned down when she was seven so they moved near Slauson Avenue around View Park–Windsor Hills, Baldwin Hills, and Ladera Heights where she was homeschooled until high school. 2.2 2012–2014: Breakthrough and Souled OutĪiko was born in Los Angeles.On February 13, 2022, she performed America the Beautiful before Super Bowl LVI. On March 6, 2020, she released her third studio album, Chilombo, which earned Aiko three Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year. On September 22, 2017, she released her second studio album Trip. The EP was supported by the singles " 3:16AM", " Bed Peace" (featuring Childish Gambino) and " The Worst", the latter of which went on to become certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).Īiko released her major-label debut album, Souled Out, on September 9, 2014.
In November 2013, she released her first project for Artium and Def Jam, an extended play (EP), titled Sail Out.
In 2013, Aiko appeared on Big Sean's single " Beware" alongside Lil Wayne, which became her first top 40 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. On December 16, 2011, Aiko signed a recording contract with American record producer No I.D.'s record label ARTium, under the aegis of Def Jam Recordings. In March 2011, Aiko made her return to music with the release of her first full-length project, a mixtape titled Sailing Soul(s). In 2003, Aiko was set to release her debut album, My Name Is Jhené, through her labels Sony, The Ultimate Group and Epic however, the album was never released, with Aiko eventually asking to be released from the label in order to continue her education. It was used as a marketing tool, suggested by Sony and Epic Records to promote Aiko through the group and cultivate her own following.
At the time, she was known as B2K member Lil' Fizz's "cousin", though she is not actually related to him. Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo ( / dʒ ə ˈ n eɪ ˈ aɪ k oʊ/ born March 16, 1988) is an American singer who embarked on her music career contributing vocals and appearing in several music videos for R&B group B2K.